MINEHEAD Cricket Club’s young all-rounder Ollie Groves has headed off to Taranaki in New Zealand for the winter to play cricket and, by the time this article appears, he will already be on the other side of the world.

Before he departed, the 18 year old, who left King’s College at the end of the summer term after completing his A Levels, said: “I’m off to North Island in New Zealand to the Tarnaki area where I’m playing cricket for Stratford.

“I’m out there for six months and come back in April ready for the season back here in England. I’m going out to play cricket and travel around as much as I can and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Ollie went on: “I am Minehead through and through and have grown up playing through the Minehead Cricket Club age groups and now I’ve been playing for the first team the last couple of years.

“I have been to King’s College in Taunton where I have loved my time and played with some really good young cricketers like Thomas Rew- so I haven’t been able to play the whole season for Minehead but have played as much as possible and contributed as well as I can. It’s been good fun.`’

“It’s a 2 day flight to Auckland with a stop over in Kuala Lumpar. Then I’m going to New Plymouth and then onto Stratford where I’m going to be staying. I have got a house on my own which could be a bit different - but it will be good fun.”

“I think the season in New Zealand starts in mid-October, They play three different formats- 2 day cricket- over two Saturdays and then they play 50 overs and T20, which will be a good experience. How’s his cricket gone this year? “I’m probably not quite the level that I want to be - bowling wise I have had a couple of injuries, In 2024 I scored a century against Castle Cary which was good fun.

“I want to be a proper all-rounder both batting and bowling - I don’t want to be pigeon holed. This season has been good fun but not been quite the level I want so I’m looking to New Zealand being a stepping stone, improving my game as much as I can and then come back here in April and contribute to the team as much as I can next season- that’s the plan.”

Ollie has just left school and taking his time in New Zealand as a gap year, before heading off to Cardiff Met next autumn. How did this all come about? “Minehead has had a link with Taranaki for a long time and I knew that I wanted a gap year and go and play cricket in New Zealand and we had the connections there so spoke to the club and they sorted it out.

“Ian Buchanan, who has been over there on the exchange previously, helped me to sort it out. It was easy to do and all I had to do was book my flights and sort my accommodation.”

Ollie added: “I’m also going to work in a supermarket to earn some money and keep me busy. Play cricket, working in the supermarket and explore as much as I can, sounds like a good winter to me!”